M08304 is a New Zealand-based outdoor adventure tour operator that started as Active New Zealand and now includes South America, Himalayas and now New Zealand Cycle Tours. Our main base is in Queenstown, New Zealand - the adventure capital of the world!

M08304 offers a variety of outdoor-oriented, small group, guided hiking, trekking, cycling, paddling and biking adventure tours. Since 1996, we have taken over 14,000 people on adventure trips all over New Zealand, Australia, Costa Rica, Peru, Patagonia, Ecuador, the Galapagos and Nepal.

We have always believed that an active trip can make the difference between just seeing a place versus getting out there and really “living” it. Andrew, our founder’s original idea of taking people on trips that challenge them a bit, reward them a lot, and allow them to experience a place, is in the DNA of our company.

Join us to really experience the outdoors, meet the locals, eat well, sleep well, and enjoy an unforgettable active vacation. You'll push yourself a little, or a lot, hiking with our guides (locals, of course!) and a few like-minded travelers. We run the most active adventure tours available in New Zealand and elsewhere, but our trips are designed for real people with a reasonable level of fitness and interest in outdoor activities. If you like to walk, trek, hike, paddle, cycle, or go to the gym, you'll love our trips - but you don't need to be a tri-athlete or have any experience in any of the activities you will undertake!

We'll minimize the time spent in a vehicle and spend it on adventure and relaxation, hiking, trekking, cycling and paddling into the planet's most beautiful scenery! We'll stay in comfortable lodges in some fantastic locations - and we'll do all this at a reasonable price. If you're looking for a friendly, professional travel outfitter run by a bunch of Kiwis who are crazy about adventure travel, you've found us! We offer several different trips so we can help you choose the best trip for you.

Questions and Answers
We're a bunch of Kiwis running the coolest small group adventures (hiking, cycling, kayaking and more) in New Zealand, Patagonia, Ecuador, Galapagos, Peru and the Himalayas since 1996.

1. How long has the business been operating and how did it start?

Andrew Fairfax started in 1996 after a short stint driving buses for another tour company inspired him to invite two guys to join him on a tramping trip in the South Island of New Zealand.

2. What is your company's mission?

Our founder's idea of taking people on trips that challenge them a bit, reward them a lot, and allow them to experience a place.

3. What does your company specialize in?

Small group tours that help people experience the outdoors, to push themselves a little beyond their expectations, to DO and not just SEE the world.

4. Who is the founder or owner of the company and briefly describe his/her past activities?

In 1995, after a short run as an attorney at a big New Zealand law firm, Andrew Fairfax quickly realized that the legal profession would survive without him, and he took on a way more fun job, driving tour buses. However, the company’s ten minute only strolls down walking trails’ rule got old pretty fast. With the enthusiastic approval of his passengers, he took them hiking up mountains and volcanoes for hours. They were thrilled, but Andrew, often hours late to his next destination, was out of a job. Inspired by following his gut, he invited two guys to join him on a trek in the South Island of New Zealand. When their adventure was over, Andrew had some money in his pocket and Richard and John had an unforgettable experience under their belts. And so our company was born.

5. What is your most popular travel package and why?

The 14-day Rimu (hiking, biking and kayaking the South Island of New Zealand) is our signature trip.

6. What is the best compliment you received from a client?

We've amassed almost 6,000 client reviews since we began doing post trip surveys in 2004 and to date have an average rating of 4.44/5.0 stars! Have a look at them on our website.